Stafford Technical Center students interested in law enforcement will get the chance to finish high school with a year’s worth of college credits.

Stafford and College of St. Joseph have announced a deal in which students going from the technical center’s public safety program to the college’s criminal justice program can earn up to 30 college credits in their junior and senior year.

Arriving with credits in-hand reduces the time and expense needed to get a degree, college officials said.

Stafford director Lyle Jepson said the arrangement was an “articulation” agreement, which differs from a “dual enrollment” agreement.

“In dual enrollment, students take coursework there for credits transferable to any college,” Jepson said. “In articulation, they take classes and get credit at that particular college. They’re not transferable.”

With Stafford students already being bused to CSJ for the program, Jepson said the new deal was a good opportunity. He said the public safety program has 19 students.

“It’s a very unique program,” Jepson said. “We’re very pleased the college is working with us on it.”

CSJ spokesman James Lambert said the college’s criminal justice program offers an associate’s and a bachelor’s degree. He said graduates go on to careers in law enforcement fields including police, corrections and probation.

The college will mark the agreement with a signing ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in the Clementwood Mansion.